What tips/tricks/advice have you learned as a blacksmith and made your own? (anything from "I drizzle Yankee Candle wax over my coke so my forge smells good" to "Coors light is the best quenching medium")

 

May as well use Coors as a quench, it really isn't a good beer.

I give blacksmithing demonstrations at a local museum.

It was once believed that Iron would harden if ...... by a little red headed boy. 

I have since learned this is not true and  have stopped using this method. 

 

The red headed boys urine treatment was used in the middle to treat eye problems. It doesn't work.

Using urine for quenching is not advisable.  The odor of urine quenching a wood fire is truly vile. (or a piece of hot metal)

I suggest that you try water, brine, or oil for your quenching.

SLAG.

Ah, you bring back memories of the sixth grade and the hiss and steam when boys would try to quench the steam radiator in the bathroom on a cold New England day. While I never contributed to the effort the attempts of others made even a brief excursion into the bathroom extremely unpleasant.

10 hours ago, AggieBlacksmith said:

What tips/tricks/advice have you learned as a blacksmith and made your own? (anything from "I drizzle Yankee Candle wax over my coke so my forge smells good" to "Coors light is the best quenching medium")

 

Someone found a use for Coors?  Wait, that's even thinner than a water quench.  I wouldn't risk it.